With Tom Cruise’s new film Top Gun: Maverick breaking records worldwide, the entire world is reminded about how dangerous pilots live.
And we all get to be reminded about America’s tech lead in reconnaissance aircraft. Naturally, The Lockheed U-2, nicknamed Dragon Lady remains America’s most famous spy plane ever and its history is more intriguing than Maverick’s live or any Ian Fleming spy novel.
U-2 Dragon Lady
As you’ve probably imagined by now, the Dragon Lady is the product of the Cold wᴀʀ, when the globe was divided between two spheres of influence and the two superpowers were engaged in a frightening arms race. It is worth noting that only four years after the United States dropped its first nuclear bomb, the Russians detonated their own bomb on Aug. 29, 1949, at Semipalatinsk Test Site, in Kazakhstan.
U-2 Dragon Lady
However, that wasn’t the only thing that frightened the Americans, considering that in 1954, Russia introduced to the world its newest bomber, Myasishchev M-4, nicknamed the Hammer.
Naturally, these advancements forced the Americans to develop advanced surveillance systems that could help them collect sensitive information from the Soviet Union. Accordingly, in 1955, the plane envisioned by Clarence “Kelly” Johnson, finally, had its first test flight.
U-2 Dragon Lady
Moving forward, the United States used the high altitude reconnaissance aircraft during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Thanks to the Dragon Lady, President John F. Kennedy found out about Soviet missile installations in western Cuba, which could easily hit targets in the United States.
During the next 13 days, flights over the Caribbean island would keep the folks in Washington informed about Russia’s operations in Castro’s Kingdom and thanks to President Kennedy’s diplomatic efforts, the nuclear wᴀʀ and possible attacks on American territory have been avoided.
U-2 Dragon Lady
Since then, the Dragon Lady was flown in various operations across the globe. It flew over China, Vietnam and Cuba during the Cold wᴀʀ and after the fall of the Iron Curtain, it was used for surveillance and reconnaissance during the armed conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq.
U-2 Dragon Lady
U-2’s “long tapered wings long —one third the weight of what was normal at the time — allowed it to fly missions covering a range of 3,000 miles and carry up to 700 pounds of the latest photoreconnaissance equipment to a staggering and unprecedented altitude of 70,000 feet,” says Lockheed Martin.
After the Cold wᴀʀ, the U-2Rs were modified and revamped as U-2S. The National Interest points out that the new models have refined sensors, a high-performing GPS system and more powerful F118 engines, which generate a speed of over five hundred miles per hour.
U-2 Dragon Lady
A decade ago, the planes were altered again under the CARE program to lower the cabin pressure and have cleaner urine collection. Naturally, these are welcomed changes for the pilots as they can enjoy a more comfortable flight.
U-2 Dragon Lady
The Lockheed U-2’s Successors
Even a titan like the Lockheed U-2 needs to retire at some point; thus, there is an urgent need for other high-altitude tactical reconnaissance planes. Naturally, there is already the Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk, and Lockheed has also designed the TR-X, which is a modern high-altitude, single-engined tactical reconnaissance aircraft.
